My mare rides great in a halter. I recently found a really mild snaffle that she works well in, but unless necessary I almost always ride in a halter. We primarily trail ride so a rope halter works great because it still has enough bite that I can control her if she gets silly. The benefits are that she is happy and well-behaved, but I can let her eat on long rides without me having to remove her bridle and switch to a halter.

"Horses donít have hard mouths, they have hard, stiff bodies. The softer you can get the horse through his body, the softer he will be in your hands." Clinton Anderson

I'm a bitless freak (but not the leverage mechanical hackamore ones) I think any horse would much prefer the same light amount of pressure applied to the nose rather than the mouth. No matter what you use, the goal is to continue to get 'less is more' by being soft, soft, soft every time.

I'm a bitless freak (but not the leverage mechanical hackamore ones) I think any horse would much prefer the same light amount of pressure applied to the nose rather than the mouth. No matter what you use, the goal is to continue to get 'less is more' by being soft, soft, soft every time.

My bits are now proudly hung up as decoration in my kitchen.

ROFL, no kidding

Its funny, really... how the goal (hopefully) that horseriders have with bit or bitless is they want the horse responding with the softest touch.
I've ridden horses back from the field in a headcollar, don't get me wrong, but I prefer having a bit in a mouth with Duffy, I have a nice big french link which she slobbers all over, but I don't think at this point in our training I could pop a halter on and not have a problem o.0

But, to OP, if it works, why fix it? Your horse obviously seems to respond better to your aids. I would question, however, why the horse didn't enjoy the bit- does he need his teeth checking out? Even with a bitless bridle teeth can cause sores, there was a pretty gross thread about it.

My pony and I communicate better without a bit too. When I first started riding her she was not mine and I was riding her at a barn that required you to ride with a bit and she did not like it. I have now brought her home and she has been here and bit less for about 5 years now and she loves it. I am not saying bit less is for every horse, but for her and I we don't show so we can do whatever we want. If your horse enjoys bit less then I'd say yeah go for it :)

Ask not what your horse can do for you, but what you can do for your horse.

Its funny, really... how the goal (hopefully) that horseriders have with bit or bitless is they want the horse responding with the softest touch.
I've ridden horses back from the field in a headcollar, don't get me wrong, but I prefer having a bit in a mouth with Duffy, I have a nice big french link which she slobbers all over, but I don't think at this point in our training I could pop a halter on and not have a problem o.0

But, to OP, if it works, why fix it? Your horse obviously seems to respond better to your aids. I would question, however, why the horse didn't enjoy the bit- does he need his teeth checking out? Even with a bitless bridle teeth can cause sores, there was a pretty gross thread about it.

Yes he recently had his teeth checked and it's not so much that he doesn't like it, its more like he just likes not having it. If that makes sense? lol

A Horse Is An Extension Of It's Rider...Both Cant Complete Their Tasks Without The Other <3

You can also try a bosal, you'd have to be soft, keep your hands in the correct position to keep pressure off his nose, but it could be the next step.

I don't use a bit unless I need one. 6 of my former horses were trained by me and only 4 of them ever had a bit in their mouths. My hubs rides better without one, but my new horse requires one to keep him collected, lower his head with a few light taps. Will have him riding bitless in the spring if at all possible!

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